Hey guys!!!
So this week we did our best with the two children I mentioned last week to see they were baptized, but it didn't work out. The family ended up having some serious problems and because of the situation right now, we aren't able to pass by their house. A church member that was helping us out is worried about I don't know what and she isn't able to help right now. Also, no one we've been teaching went to church! SOOO, we are going to work in a different neighborhood this coming week. I am excited! I always get excited when there is some change in the work, like a different neighborhood, area, companion, teaching pool - it's good stuff.
Hey mom, I was thinking about what you said, that you feel like it's on your shoulders to get the women excited about missionary work. I had an IDEA! Talk to the missionaries! Tell them you want to get the women excited about missionary work. I'm sure they will be more than happy to help. One of the things that missionaries want most for church members is that they develop the faith, vision, and excitement necessary to do missionary work. I don't know what I'd give to have one of our ward leaders come to me and ask me to help their members to develop these things and to give me all their support.
Well, unfortunately I had a lot to do today on the computer today so I wasn't able to write a lot, but I'm doing well, I'm healthy! I'm learning a ton! Yeah mormonism! I love you guys a WHOLE LOT!!! LIKE A LOT!! Thank you for your prayers!
Elder Bradford
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
February 17th letter
Yo peeps!
I am liking my new mission ward a lot. Yesterday we had our coordination meeting and I think it was the best one I've ever had on the mission. Probably because it was the first that had the participation of the bishopric and the auxiliary group leaders. When we talked about the difficulties of those we're teaching, they were ready to give an idea, or offer to make a phone call once in a while, or make a visit with us. Man, it was so much easier that having to run after each and every member trying to make visits. Make sure, Mom, that you have a representative of the Relief Society at the missionary coordination meeting because it will strengthen the link between the ward and the missionaries. Man, it was definitely one of the most positive and productive coordination meetings I've had on my mission! Most of the time in other areas it was just myself, my companion, and the ward mission leader in the meeting...and it was just for him to follow up with us and see if we were working. Now I understand a lot more about how to make that vital connection between the ward and the missionaries. I left the meeting really excited to work this week (a sign of an effective meeting)! It means a lot to a missionary to know that he/she isn't working alone.
Yesterday was New Beginnings (Novos Inícios) for the young women in the Bandeirantes ward. I had promised them I would help out by playing piano, so I did that yesterday and it went well. The meeting was small because the ward has only three active young women, but it was still good.
Something cool happened in church yesterday that I wanted to tell you about. We were in Gospel Principles class learning about the Holy Spirit when the thought came to my mind that we should try calling someone that we'd been teaching that hadn't yet showed up to church. I didn't want to interrupt the class, but the thought kept coming strong, so I went over and told Elder Miranda. So we left the classroom and went over to the bishops office to use the phone, but then we remembered we had left the phone number of the guy at home, so we went to go back to class and saw a brother sitting alone in a classroom. We walked by, but Elder Miranda decided to stop and talk to him. It turns out that he is going through some VERY tough stuff right now. We gave him a priesthood blessing and returned to class. At that point the church members were discussing experiences with the Spirit, and Elder Miranda said, "Interestingly enough, we had an example right this very moment of how the Spirit works" and he started to explain what had just happened. It was in that moment that I realized what the Spirit had done so that we could end up giving that brother a blessing. I think I overlook many times how much the Spirit helps me daily.
Please pray for Gabriel and his sister because we are working to baptize them this Saturday! I love you guys, thank you for your prayers!
Elder Bradford
I am liking my new mission ward a lot. Yesterday we had our coordination meeting and I think it was the best one I've ever had on the mission. Probably because it was the first that had the participation of the bishopric and the auxiliary group leaders. When we talked about the difficulties of those we're teaching, they were ready to give an idea, or offer to make a phone call once in a while, or make a visit with us. Man, it was so much easier that having to run after each and every member trying to make visits. Make sure, Mom, that you have a representative of the Relief Society at the missionary coordination meeting because it will strengthen the link between the ward and the missionaries. Man, it was definitely one of the most positive and productive coordination meetings I've had on my mission! Most of the time in other areas it was just myself, my companion, and the ward mission leader in the meeting...and it was just for him to follow up with us and see if we were working. Now I understand a lot more about how to make that vital connection between the ward and the missionaries. I left the meeting really excited to work this week (a sign of an effective meeting)! It means a lot to a missionary to know that he/she isn't working alone.
Yesterday was New Beginnings (Novos Inícios) for the young women in the Bandeirantes ward. I had promised them I would help out by playing piano, so I did that yesterday and it went well. The meeting was small because the ward has only three active young women, but it was still good.
Something cool happened in church yesterday that I wanted to tell you about. We were in Gospel Principles class learning about the Holy Spirit when the thought came to my mind that we should try calling someone that we'd been teaching that hadn't yet showed up to church. I didn't want to interrupt the class, but the thought kept coming strong, so I went over and told Elder Miranda. So we left the classroom and went over to the bishops office to use the phone, but then we remembered we had left the phone number of the guy at home, so we went to go back to class and saw a brother sitting alone in a classroom. We walked by, but Elder Miranda decided to stop and talk to him. It turns out that he is going through some VERY tough stuff right now. We gave him a priesthood blessing and returned to class. At that point the church members were discussing experiences with the Spirit, and Elder Miranda said, "Interestingly enough, we had an example right this very moment of how the Spirit works" and he started to explain what had just happened. It was in that moment that I realized what the Spirit had done so that we could end up giving that brother a blessing. I think I overlook many times how much the Spirit helps me daily.
Please pray for Gabriel and his sister because we are working to baptize them this Saturday! I love you guys, thank you for your prayers!
Elder Bradford
 |
| This is brigadeiro (have you guys made it yet???). Sometimes people put stuff in brigadeiro, so we put the Reese's Pieces you sent me - wow that was good stuff! |
 |
| We bought pamonha from a street vendor. It's like mashed up corn with butter or something, but that's also some good stuff right there. |
 |
| Elder Miranda enjoying some pamonha. |
 |
| Cleaning the baptismal font!! There was a ward baptism of a boy named Felipe. It was a very good baptismal service and some people we're teaching came (yes!!!) |
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Transfer in Southwest Campinas (final mission transfer)
Hello family,
Man, we worked hard this week to get some people to attend church...we had a good group of folks, but they didn't make it out...AHHHHHH!! So, we'll be giving them another chance this week, as we really haven't had a chance to teach them much yet.
Also, I was transferred! My new ward is Ouro Verde, which is the other ward in Southwest Campinas that uses the same church building as the ward I've been in! I'm gonna be with Elder Miranda, who was already there, so now both of us will be together as mission zone leaders. It will help us out a lot to get things going in the zone. I'm staying in the same apartment, just moved to the other room. Elder Papenfuss is also staying and now he's going to have a different companion, but his dad (me) is gonna be here to help him out every step of the way! :P
Keep me in your prayers...even at the end of my mission I am growing and learning so much! I'm going to do my absolute best! Have a great blustery, snowy week! Here it's being the complete opposite. I love you guys sooooooooo much!
Elder Bradford
Man, we worked hard this week to get some people to attend church...we had a good group of folks, but they didn't make it out...AHHHHHH!! So, we'll be giving them another chance this week, as we really haven't had a chance to teach them much yet.
Also, I was transferred! My new ward is Ouro Verde, which is the other ward in Southwest Campinas that uses the same church building as the ward I've been in! I'm gonna be with Elder Miranda, who was already there, so now both of us will be together as mission zone leaders. It will help us out a lot to get things going in the zone. I'm staying in the same apartment, just moved to the other room. Elder Papenfuss is also staying and now he's going to have a different companion, but his dad (me) is gonna be here to help him out every step of the way! :P
Keep me in your prayers...even at the end of my mission I am growing and learning so much! I'm going to do my absolute best! Have a great blustery, snowy week! Here it's being the complete opposite. I love you guys sooooooooo much!
Elder Bradford
 |
| Thank you so much for the cookies!!! Man I miss the CTM!!!! [the cookies are from Mr. Cheney's, which is a business that caters to American missionaries and is located next to the Brazil missionary training center, or CTM]. Also, the other package you shipped the beginning of October got here [finally] the same day...thank you so much!!!! |
 |
| We made something called Pavê for our mission zone activity...it's creme or mousse layered with crackers...it's good stuff!!! |
 |
| Corn popcicle - mmmmmmm!!! It's actually fairly popular here and it's not that bad! |
 |
| These pics are from our mission zone activity. We played torta na cara (pie in the face). A scriptural question was posed, and the person that slaps the table first gets to respond. If he gets it right, he can land the pie in the other persons face - if he's wrong he gets it in his own face. It was pretty cool. |
Sunday, February 9, 2014
February 3rd letter
Hey my best friends!
So this week was interesting. We found some more people to teach, but unfortunately no one went to church! That seems to be one of the most difficult things here, is finding people who will actually go to church! We also had two Family Home Evenings with church members, we taught a pastor, an english school principal, an atheist, and a woman who is returning to church after about 3 years away from it. Yeah it's crazy stuff.
You might be surprised to see that I am writing today...the mission zone meeting I mentioned last week was canceled, so today is our preparation day. A missionary in our zone is stopping by the mission office today, so I asked him to pick up my package [for his birthday]. I AM SO EXCITED!!!
Also, today we're gonna do an activity with the missionaries in my zone...it's going to be sweeeet! Unfortunately my time is already up...I know it's probably annoying that I don't write a lot every week. I try my hardest to write the most to you guys, but I usually get caught up in stuff for the mission zone and the area, since we are only allowed and hour and a half on the computers per week.
I love you guys so much...please, please, please pray for me, as well as for opportunities for your friends to hear about the gospel!
Elder Bradford
So this week was interesting. We found some more people to teach, but unfortunately no one went to church! That seems to be one of the most difficult things here, is finding people who will actually go to church! We also had two Family Home Evenings with church members, we taught a pastor, an english school principal, an atheist, and a woman who is returning to church after about 3 years away from it. Yeah it's crazy stuff.
 |
| We went to a hamburger place on my [21st] birthday...it was COOL! |
Also, today we're gonna do an activity with the missionaries in my zone...it's going to be sweeeet! Unfortunately my time is already up...I know it's probably annoying that I don't write a lot every week. I try my hardest to write the most to you guys, but I usually get caught up in stuff for the mission zone and the area, since we are only allowed and hour and a half on the computers per week.
I love you guys so much...please, please, please pray for me, as well as for opportunities for your friends to hear about the gospel!
Elder Bradford
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
AJ's 21st birthday
Hello sports fans!
Well, thank you so much for all the emails wishing me a happy birthday! I felt so good today! I felt like I was 21 years old! But just for a moment. I don't even believe that I'm 21. It's so weird. But anyway, I am still a missionary and I still have to work so that's what I'm a gonna do!
Elder Papenfuss's Portuguese is getting better...he's still talking with everyone he meets, so that's good. This very second he turned to the guy by him in this internet café and showed him mormon.org. Man I've never done that! What a splendid idea!
On Saturday, we went to contact a woman we had talked to earlier in the week. Unfortunately, she didn't live at the house number she passed to me, but we ended up talking with the family that did live at the house. We asked them if we could share a gospel message and they accepted (a bit reluctantly). They called all eleven (11) people that were in the house to participate. So, they gave us two chairs and everyone gathered around on the front porch. This isn't anything new for me, but I imagined how scary it must have been for Elder Papenfuss! We aren't able to follow-up with the majority of them because they live outside our mission boundaries, but it was good practice for Elder Papenfuss.
The family that attended church last week wasn't able to go this week (bleh). But I hope...really, really hope...they will attend this Sunday. We will do a Family Home Evening with them and another family in the church ward this week, it's gonna be GREAT!
We had a multi-zone mission conference and talked a little about some stuff from a book called 'Every Missionary Can Baptize'. It's a pretty good read, I recommend it. This book and a few others that I've read talk extensively about focusing completely on the work and the power of the mind.
Okay, my time's up. Thank you so much for the warm birthday wishes! I'm excited to see my mystery package next week! (OH HO HO what could it BE!?!?). I love you ALL and INDIVIDUALLY with all my heart!
Elder Bradford
Well, thank you so much for all the emails wishing me a happy birthday! I felt so good today! I felt like I was 21 years old! But just for a moment. I don't even believe that I'm 21. It's so weird. But anyway, I am still a missionary and I still have to work so that's what I'm a gonna do!
Elder Papenfuss's Portuguese is getting better...he's still talking with everyone he meets, so that's good. This very second he turned to the guy by him in this internet café and showed him mormon.org. Man I've never done that! What a splendid idea!
On Saturday, we went to contact a woman we had talked to earlier in the week. Unfortunately, she didn't live at the house number she passed to me, but we ended up talking with the family that did live at the house. We asked them if we could share a gospel message and they accepted (a bit reluctantly). They called all eleven (11) people that were in the house to participate. So, they gave us two chairs and everyone gathered around on the front porch. This isn't anything new for me, but I imagined how scary it must have been for Elder Papenfuss! We aren't able to follow-up with the majority of them because they live outside our mission boundaries, but it was good practice for Elder Papenfuss.
The family that attended church last week wasn't able to go this week (bleh). But I hope...really, really hope...they will attend this Sunday. We will do a Family Home Evening with them and another family in the church ward this week, it's gonna be GREAT!
We had a multi-zone mission conference and talked a little about some stuff from a book called 'Every Missionary Can Baptize'. It's a pretty good read, I recommend it. This book and a few others that I've read talk extensively about focusing completely on the work and the power of the mind.
Okay, my time's up. Thank you so much for the warm birthday wishes! I'm excited to see my mystery package next week! (OH HO HO what could it BE!?!?). I love you ALL and INDIVIDUALLY with all my heart!
Elder Bradford
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)